Apparatus for obtaining desired quantities of material.



No. 797,145. PATENTE) AUG. 15, 1905,

W. 1a. Nomsow.

APPARATUS POR OBTAINING DESIRED QUANTITIES 0F MATERIAL. APPLIUTION NLBDH0125. 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 797,145 PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905k W. E. NIGKERSON.

APPARATUS POR OBTAINNG DESIRED QUANTITIES 0F MATERIAL APPLIOATION FILEDNov. 25, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHBET Z.

WJTNEEEEE. v

No. 797,145. PATENTEDAUG. 15, 1905. W. B. NIGKBRSON.

APPARATUS FR OBTAINING DESIRED QUNTITI'ES 0F MATERIAL.

' APPLIGATION 'FILED Nov. 2s, 1901.

v 4 SHEETS-MEET s.

lINH] HHHIU .52 WIWI HHM 0 NI j L# www.

NOYQ'JM. PATENTED AUG. 15,1905,

WVE. NGKERSUN.

APPARATUS FR OBTMNNG DESIRED QUANTITIES 0F MATERIAL.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 25, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.-.

l UNTE .STATES PATENT UiVFfU il..

ASSIGNUR, BY MESNE r'iSSlGNiViiCNTS, T() AUTUMATIC WTEIG-i-b INGMAUil'lNE UUMPANY, 0F NEWT YURK, N. Y., A CORPURATiOii UF NEW YORK.

.Patented Aug'. 15, 1905.

Application iiied November Z5, ]901. Serial No. 83.567.

Be it known th at i, WILLIAM EM nur iiieiienson, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements inApparatus for Obtaining Desired Quantities of Material, of which thefollowing' is a specification.

In other Letters Patent of the United States bearing the same dateherewith and granted on an application liled by me on November 25, 1901,Serial No. 83,566, is described and claimed an apparatus for obtainingdesired quantities of material in the operation of which a stream ofmaterial is separated into successive series of proportional incrementsand the increments are distributed in order among a number ofreceptacles, to which l'ietters Pateut reference is hereby made for afull understanding' of said apparatus and its mode of operation.

My present invention, which is based upon the same principles theapparatus above re ferred to, is intended to provide a machine for thesame purpose which will be better adapted to handle materials of apowdery or iinelygranular' form and capable of operating with greataccuracy and rapidity.

Further objects of my invention are to provide for the elimination oferror when the apparatus is started and stopped and to reduce theliability to systematic errors in the results obtained.

My invention also includes novel means for conducting the resulting'quantities into the packages or receptacles to be iilled, together withother subordinate features hereinafter set forth.

Like the apparatus above referred to, my machine comprises a series ofseparators accurately spaced apart, and thus providing between them aseries of openings or pockets adapted to receive and distributesuccessive increments of material, inA combination with means forcausing a stream of material to sweep laterally across said separatorsin order, and a main feature of my invention is the provision of meansfor delivering the material to the series of separators in asheet-stream which coincides in general contour with the path of itsmovement relatively to the series of sepa rators. Said sheet-stream ispreferabiy madcto form a circle corresponding to a circular arrangementof separators, so that material will be delivered into all the spacesbetween the separators at once, thus eliminating that error which willoccur when a single-stream ap paratus, such as is shown in the patentabove referred to, is started and stopped in case one more increment hasbeen delivered into some receptacles than into others. Furthermore, thesize of a sheet-stream in its circular dimension is so much g'reaterthan that of a single stream that it may be made very thin in thatdimension which is at right angles to its path, and hence is not actedupon by the separators, thereby redi'lcing the liability tomaterialvariations or fluctuations in the thickness of the stream withoutdecreasing' the rapidity of the operation of the apparatus by undulydiminishing the total volume of the stream of material delivered in agiven time.

Another feature of my invention is the rotation of the inequalities ofthe sheet-stream, if any exist, thereby o\.'ercoming systematic errors,as hereinafter set forth, this feature, together with others of lessimportance, being hereinafter described at length.

In the accompanying' drawings is illustrated a preferred form ofapparatus embodying my invention, in whichm Figure iV is a side view ofthe complete machine, partly in elevation and partly in central verticalsection. lfig. 2 is a plan view of a series of separators and awheelslile member by which they are carried. Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysectional view, taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. Q., showing also certainattached parts. Fig. fiis a vertical section taken on the line 4r si inAFig. 3. Fig. is a horizontal sectionV on the line 5 5 in iig. l. Figs.G and 'Z' are elevations, on an enlarged scale, of a dmv-controllingmechanism viewed in directions at right angles to each other. Fig. 8 isa plan view, on an enlarged scale, of means for operating saidflow-controlling mechanism. Figs. 9 and l0 are enlarged detail viewsshowing an. adjustment hereinafter described.

in the apparatus shown in the drawings the framework is suitably(iesigi'ied to carry a feeding' device, a series of separators, andthedesired number of receptacles to be filled with material, together withsuitable operating meehal'iism. For supporting the receptacles a table 2is provided, which is located at the lower part of the machine and issupported thereby. At some distance above this table 2 is located aseries of separators, preferably consisting of a number of sharp radialedges 3, arranged in a circle by being secured to or formed integralwith a wheel-like member 4, which may be supported from the table 2 bysuitable uprights 5, as shown. It is usually desirable to revolve theseries of separators during the operation of the apparatus, and hence Ihave shown the table 2 as secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft6, which is journaled on the framework of the machine and is providedwith means whereby it may be driven, such as bevel-gears 7 and 8, ashaft 9, and a pulley 10. The separators 3 are or dinarily located atequal distances apart and may be of any desired number, one hundred ofthem being shown in the drawings, thus providing one hundred equalspaces or pockets 11 between them for the reception of successiveincrements of the material operated upon. I prefer to form saidseparators 3 and pockets 11 by drilling a series of holes in the rim 12of the wheel-like member 4, each hole having the shape of an invertedtruncated cone and having such dimensions that the walls of each pair ofadjoining' cones will intersect, so that each pair of holes will beseparated by an edge 3, formed at the curved line of intersection, asillustrated in Fig. 4. The lowest portion of each edge 3 is thus locatedat some distance below the concentric circular edges of the rim of thewheel-like member 4, so that the stream of material operated upon may beintroduced between said concentric edges before it is separated intoincrements,thereby diminishing any tendency of the material to slop orspill.

Directly above the series of separators 3 is located a device forfeeding material thereto in a sheet-stream. To obtain the best results,it is desirable that the stream shall form a complete circle continuousat all points, and for obtaining such a stream I prefer to employ thecombination of an internal cone 13 and an external cylindrical shell 14,the bottom edges of which are separated in operation sufficiently toleave an annular aperture having a width equal to the desired thicknessof the stream. 'Ihe space between the cone 13 and the shell 14, abovethe lower edges thereof, forms a bin or hopper for the reception of amass of material equal in amount to the sum of the quantities desired tobe delivered by the apparatus at one operation thereof. In case theapparatus is intended to operate upon material of such a nature that itwill flow freely and evenly and will not clog the cone 13 and the shell14 may be held stationary, the separation of the material intoincrements being eected by the movement of the series of sepav rators 3,as `explained in the Letters Patent above referred to. I prefer,however, to provide for the rotation of either the cone 13 or the shell14, or both, so that said parts will have a relative movement withrespect to each other, since the flow of a powdery or similar materialis thereby nfuch facilitated, and I have accordingly shown means forobtaining such relative movement. According to the arrangement shown thecone 13 is rigidly secured to a vertical shaft 15, suitably journaled onthe framework and provided at or near its upper end with a collar 16,mounted on a supporting ball-bearing 17, and the shell 14 is secured toa sleeve 18, which incloses the shaft 15 and is centered thereby, beingsupported near its upper end on a ball-bearingI 19. The cone 13 and theshell 14 are thus adapted to be rotated independently of each other, andfor effecting such rotation the shaft 15 and sleeve 18 may be provided,respectively, with gears E20 and 21, which mesh with a pinion 22,secured to a horizontal shaft 23, which is driven by a pulley 24. Asthus constructed the members 13 and 14 will be rotated in oppositedirections, so that the body of material contained between them will beacted upon by frictional contact with said rotating members, especiallyat and near the openingleft between the lower edges thereof, whereby asteady and even flow of the material will be promoted.

It is important to keep the members 13 and 14 accurately concentric witheach other at all times in order that the width of the opening betweentheir bottom edges may remain constant throughout each rotation of saidmembers, and to this end I prefer not only to journal the sleeve 18 uponthe shaft 15, as above described, but also to journal the upper end ofthe cone 13 upon the sleeve 18, as shown, thereby securing greatsteadiness in operation, 'as well as accuracy. The words C j, Y C j,

cone and shell are to be understood as including any two concentricmembers forming a bin or hopper between them and adapted to deliver asheet-stream of material to a series of separators.

In order to keep the top surface of the bulk of material level, so as tomaintain constant conditions of pressure therein, a number of pins 25may be secured to one or both of the members 13 and 14, which will serveto scrape off and level any inequalities which may occur in the heightof the material contained between said members. I prefer also to providebeneath the ball-bearing 17 a supporting-gimbal or universal joint inorder to render said bearing self-adjusting to a plane perpendicular tothe axis of the shaft 15, and thus prevent lateral strains therein. Thismay be accomplished by interposing between said ball-bearing 17 and theframework of the machine two collars 26 and 27, (see Figs. 6 and 7 theformer being supported on two diametrically opposite pivots 9.8, bearingon the framework, and the collar 27 being' supported on the collar 26 bymeans of two diametrically opposite pivots 29, arranged at right anglesto the line of support of said collar 26, s'o that each collar will havea rockn ing motion with respect to its support. A similar' device may beplaced beneath `the ball-bearing 19, if desired. I also prefer to centerthe wheel-like member 4 by journaling it upon the extended lower end ofthe shaft 15, whereby the stream of material and the series ofseparators will be kept concentric with each other.

lt is desirable to be able to control the size of the opening' throughwhich the circular stream of material is delivered to the separators,both in order that streams of any desired thickness may be obtained andalso in order that the flow may be started simultaneously at all pointsof the circle, and l therefore provide means for varyingsaid opening' bygiving a vertical movement either to the cone member 13 or to the shellmember 14, preferably the former. To this end the collar27 may be madein two parts 3() and 31, each of the adjacent faces of said parts havinga series of inclined surfaces 32, matching' the similar surfaces on theother part like a clutch. As shown, the upper member 30 forms thesupport for the ball-bearing' 17 and is provided with an arm 33, bywhich it may be given a partial rotation. VBy moving the arm 33 in onedirection the members 30 and 31 will be separated by the movement of theopposed inclined surfaces 32 upon each other, thereby raising the shaft15 and with it the cone 13, and by moving' said arm 33 in the otherdirection the cone 13 will be lowered, the size of the circular openingat its bottom being' thus controlled at will whether the parts of theapparatus are in motion or at rest. The gear 2O is splined to the shaft15 :in order to permit the movement just described without interferingwith the engagement of said gear with the pinion 2Q. The arm 33 may beoperated by means` of a link 34, pivoted thereto and to an arm 35,secured to a vertical shaft 36, which is journalcd on the framework ofthe machineand is provided at any convenient point with an operatinglever 37. The cone 13 may be locked in any desired position by pivotingthe lever 37 to the shaft 36, so that by moving said lcververtically itmay be engaged with or disengaged from any one of a series of notches33, formed on a horizontal segment 39, secured to the framework of themachine.

In order to prevent any lateral strains from being imparted to the shaft15 and sleeve 13 i through the gears 2O and 21, l prefer to locatebearingerollers 40 and 41 above and below the gears 20 and 21,respectively, said rollers forming a support for said gears adapted toresist any vertical thru st imparted thereto by the pinion 22. rilheserollers 4() and 41 may be made adjustable by mounting them eccentricallyin bearings 42, as shown 1n. Figs. 9

and 10, the desired adjustment being obtained by turning the bearings 42to the proper position and locking them therein by means of set-screws43.

lt will be seen that the upper and lower ends of the gear 20, the sleeve18, and the interior portion of the cone 13, as well as the bearings bywhich these parts are supported, are slanted or given a blunt taperinward. This is for the purpose of causing the oil used in lubrieatingthe parts to flow toward the central shaft 15, and thus to be kept awayfrom the material operated upon. The spaces between the supportingportion of the shell 14 and the adjacent bearings are preferably coveredby cylindrical casiugs 44 and 45 to keep out particles of material. Ialso prefer to secure a drip-cup 46 to the under side of the wheellikemember 4, directly beneath the shaft 15, in order to catch any oil whichmay drip therefrom.

I will now describe the construction which l prefer to employ fordelivering the successively-separated increments of material into thereceptacles provided therefor, the arrangement being such that thereceptacles may be placed side by side in a tray and introduced into andwithdrawn from the apparatus collectively.

Above the table 2 is supported, by means of fixed uprights 47, a jireferably rectangular frame 43, upon the four sides of which aresupported a number of longitudinally-slotted bars 49, arranged in twosets one above the other, the bars of each set being parallel with andadjustable toward and from one another and also being at right angles tothe bars of the other set, as best shown in F ig. To provide for theadjustment of the bars 49, each side of the framework 43 may be slotted,as shown at 50, a bolt 51, provided with a thumbscrew 52, being passedthrough the end of each bar 49 and through the corresponding slot 50, sothat by loosening' the thumb-screws at the ends of each bar said bar maybe moved laterally when desired. The two sets of slotted bars 49 thusprovide at their intersections a number of square openings the number ofthe bars 49 being' such that the number of openings 53 will equal thenumber of the receptacles to be filled at one operation. ln theapparatus shown there are ten bars 49 in each set, thus providing onehundred openings 53. Into each of the openings 53 is introduced thelower end of a tube 54, which leads thereto from the lower end of one ofthe pockets 11 formed in the wheel member 4. This construction isindicated in Fig. 1 and is such that each pocket 11 will have its owntube 54 leading to a corresponding opening The arrangement of the tubes54 is preferably such that no one ol' said tubes will be vertical, sincepowdery material will flow more freely and with less liability to blowand clog through an inclined tube than through a verticalone. Theconnection between the upper end of each tube 54 and the correspondingpocket 11 is made sufficiently iieXible to permit of the limitedmovement of the lower end of said tubes required for the adjustment ofthe bars 49, and this may be accomplished by uniting each tube 54 withthe lower end of its pocket 11 by bringing said parts together andsurrounding them by a short piece of rubber tubing' 55, as best shown inFigs. 3 and 4. As thus constructed, it will be seen that by properlyadjusting' the slotted bars 49 the lower ends of the tubes 54 may belocated at any desired dista-nce apart within certain limits, and maythus be ar'- ranged to deliver into a corresponding number ofreceptacles arranged in close proximity to one another regardless of thesize of said receptacles. In Fig. 5 said tubes are shown in the properposition for the largest size of receptacles which can be accommodatedby the particular apparatus shown. The receptacles 56, one hundred innumber, are supported side by side on the table 2 beneath the respectivetubes 54, and are preferably laced in a tray 57, so that they may beinserted and withdrawn together for convenience in handling. Thisarrangement also makes it possible to settle the charges in thcrespective packages in a very simple and eX- peditious manner by merelyagitating or rapping the tray in which said packages are contained, andto this end a number of bell-crank levers 53 may be pivotally suspendedfrom the bottom of the table 2 on radial axes, with their horizontalarms lying in slots in said table adjacent to the bottom of the tray 57,and with their vertical arms projecting downward far enough to besuccessively engaged as the table rotates by a stop 59 secured to theframework of the machine in the path of said arms.

rI he horizontal arms of the levers 5S point in the opposite directionto that in which the table 2 rotates, so that each time one of saidlevers passes the stop 59 the corresponding side of the tray 5T isslightly raised and suddenly dropped, thus jarring and settling itsentire contents. lt is one of the features of my apparatus that avigorous settling action can go on throughout the entire operation oicthe apparatus, as there are no scale-beams to be displaced nor poisingoperations to be interfered with.

To operate the apparatus above described, the cone 13 will be raised byoperating the lever 37 until the circular aperture at its lower edge isclosed, and a quantity of material equal in amount to the sum or' thequantities desired will then be introduced in one mass into the binformed by said cone 13 and the shell 14.

ing of the desired size has been provided for the iiow of the material.Said material will then be fed in a continuous circular sheet-v streamto the series of edges 3, each of which by its lateral movement willseparate increments of material from every portion of every streamsuccessively. r1`his separation of increments will be simultaneous withrespect to all the pockets 11 and continuous with respect to each ofsaid pockets, as would be the case it' the separators were stationary,the eect of the revolution of the series of separators being to causeeach pocket 11 to receive increments from each portion of the circularstream instead of from one portion only,so that local ditferences in thevolume ot' the stream will be distributed among all the pockets and willaffect all the resultant quantities alike. The increments of materialthus separated from the circular stream will fall through the tubes 54into the respective receptacles 56 until all the material has beendistributed, the desired quantities of material being thus built upconcurrently in the receptacles 56 with a degree or' accuracy dependingupon the speed of said separators 3, as explained in the Letters Patentabove referred to. Inasmuch as the stream of material will flow into allthe spaces between the separators simultaneously, even at the beginningand at the end of the flow, no error can occur on account ot' thedelivery of one more increment into some of the receptacles than intoothers. The evenness of delivery o't' the last portion of the charge,and hence its accuracy of distribution, may be increased by raising thecone 13 toward the end ot' the operation of the apparatus, and thusproducing' a finer stream. Furthermore, since the stream of material maybe made very thin in that dimension which is not acted upon by theseparators errors due to possible variations in the thickness of thestream may thus be correspondingly reduced without undesirablydecreasing the amount of material delivered in a given time because thethinness of the stream is compensated by its size in its circulardimension.

lt' the cone 13 and the shell 14 are rotated at the same speed inopposite directions, they will tend to prevent circular movement of thematerial as a whole, and therefore the distribution of variations in thesize of the stream among the several receptacles must in such case beaccomplished by the rotation of the separators 3. lonsequently if thereis anything in the construction or operation of the cone and shelltending to aect the quantities obtained with systematic errors therewill be nothingI in the operation ot the apparatus as a whole which willeliminate such errors, and accordingly I prefer to make the cone 13 andthe shell 14 to rotate at different speeds, as by providing one moretooth in one of the gears 2O and 21 than in the other. r1`he result ofsuch a construction will be that any inequality in the size of thestream due to a variation in the distance between the walls of theaperture throug'h which the stream is delivered or to any other lack ofstructural exactness in the mechanism for delivering the stream will berotated around the central axis of the apparatus at a rate substantiallyequal to the difference between the speeds of the cone 13 and the shellla, and. hence in this manner variations in the stream due to anystructural im- .perfection such as above referred to may be distributedamong all the receptacles by the combination of the rotation of theinequalities of the stream and the rotation of the separators, as willbe clearly understood by referring' to the principles set forth in theLetters Patent hereinbefore referred to, to which reference is herebymade. ln place of rotating the cone 13 and the shell 14E in oppositedirections at different speeds they may be rotated in the same directionat different speeds, or even at the same speed, provided in the lattercase the material is such as will iiow with suflicient steadinessWithout requiring' a relative movement between the said parts 13 and la.

l do not consider my present invention to be limited to any specic meansfor delivering a quantity of material in a sheet-stream, nor to thespecific form of separators herein shown and described, nor to theherein-described arrangement of parts for conveying the distributedmaterial into appropriate receptacles, as each of said elements may begreatly varied without departing from my invention.

li do not claim herein, broadly, the combination with a series ofseparators of means for delivering thereto a definite quantity ofmaterial in a stream and means for simultaneously giving both the streamand the series of separators alateral movement with respect to eachother in order to eliminate systematic errors, as the same is describedand claimed in the aforesaid Letters Patent.

I claim as my inventionl. lln an apparatus of the character described,thewcombination with a series of separators accurately spaced apart andproviding' a series of openings or pockets between them, of means fordelivering to said separators a definite quantity of material in asheet-stream, and means for producing a relative lateral movementbetween said sheet-stream and the series of separators.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with aseries of separators arranged in a circle and accurately spaced apart,thereby providing' a circular series of openings or pockets betweenthem, of means for delivering' thereto simultaneously a definitequantity of material in a sheetstream, and means for producing arelative lateral movement between said stream and series of separators.

3. ln an apparatus of the character ydeu scribed, a feeding' devicecomprising a cone and a shell constructed to meet at their lower endsand thereby form a retaining bin or hopper, and means for moving'vertically one of said members and thereby producing' or closing at willan opening' between said lower ends adapted to deliver a circularsheet-stream of material.

4L. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination with acircular series of separators and means for revolving' the same, of acone and a shell independently journaled on a vertical axis andproviding at their adjacent lower edges an opening adapted to deliver acircular sheet-stream of material te said separators, and means forrotating' said. cone and shell in opposite directions.

5. iin an apparatus of the character de'- scribed, the combination witha circular series of separators, of a cone and a shell independentlyjonrnaled on a'vertical axis and providing at their adjacent lower edgesan opening adapted to deliver a circular sheet-stream of material tosaid separators, and means for rotating` said cone and shell atdiiferent speeds.

6. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a coneand a shell forming together a bin or hopper adapted to deliver at itsbottom a circular stream of material., means for rotating said cone andshell at different speeds, a circular series of separators providing'between them a corresponding' series of openings or pockets, and meansfor revolving said series of separators.

'i'. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of aseries of separators arranged in a horizontal circle and means forrevolving' the same, and a feeding' device comprising a cone rotatablymounted on a vertical axis and surrounded by a cylindrical shell formingtherewith a bin or hopper and providing' an opening at the bottomthereofl adapted to deliver a circular sheetstream of material to theseparators, and means for rotating' said cone and shell at differentspeeds in opposite directions.

it. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of avertical shaft and means for rotating' the same, means carried by saidshaft for delivering' a circular sheet-stream of material, and awheel-like member journaled on said shaft below said feeding device andhaving' its rim provided with a series of separators forming' acorresponding' series of openings between them.

9. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of avertical shaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, means for rotating saidsleeve and shaft with respect to each other, a cone and a shell securedto said shaft and sleeve respectively and forming' a bin or hopperadapted to deliver a circular sheet-stream of material of substantiallyuniform thickness, the sides of the cone being formed to extend.

beneath the lower edge of the shell, and means for moving one of saidparts vertically to bring the lower edges of said cone and shell intocontact or to separate them as desired, for the purpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the character described. the combination of avertical shaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, means for rotating saidsleeve and shaft with respect to each other, and a cone and a shellsecured to said shaft and sleeve respectively and forming a bin orhopper, the upper portion of the cone carried by said shaft beingjournaled on said sleeve.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of avertical shaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, means for rotating saidshaft and sleeve with respect to each other, a cone and a shell carriedby said shaft and sleeve and cooperating to form a bin or hopper,

vand means for moving said shaft vertically,

comprising a two-part collar supporting said shaft and provided withcooperating inclined faces, and means for partially rotating one of theparts of said collar.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of avertical shaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, means for rotating saidsleeve and shaft with respect to each other, and a cone and a shellsecured to said shaft and sleeve respectively and forming a bin orhopper, the ends of the parts carried by said shaft above and within thebin being bluntly slanted inward and downward, for the purpose setforth.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, a feeding device comprising a coneand a shell carried by said shaft and sleeve respectively, two gearssecured to said shaft and sleeve respectively and meshing with adriving-pinion, the shaft-gear being splined thereto, and a supportingroller-bearing behind each of said gears at the point where it engagessaid pinion.

14:. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with afeeding device of a series of separators accurately spaced apart,thereby providing a series of openings or pockets between them, meansfor producing arelative lateral movement between said separators andfeeding' device, a series of inclined tubes leading respectively fromthe bottoms of said pockets and fieXibly secured thereto, and means foradjusting the lower ends of said tubes laterally.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with aseries of separators 3 and pockets 11, of a frame, two sets oflongitudinally-slotted bars supported on said frame, the slots in eachset of bars being parallel to one another and crossing those of theother set, thereby forming at their intersections a number of openings,and chutes leading from said pockets respectively through said openings.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with aseries of separators 3 and pockets 11 of a table carrying the same andadapted to receive a tray full of receptacles arranged side by side, aframe above said table, two sets of longitudinallyslotted bars supportedon said frame, the slots in each set of bars being parallel to oneanother and crossing those of the other set, thereby forming at theirintersections a number of openings, each of said bars being adjustablesidewise on said frame, and a chute flexibly connected to the bottom ofeach of said pockets and leading therefrom through one of said openings.

1T. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of atray adapted to hold a number of receptacles, a separator and means forconveying charges of material therefrom to said receptaclessimultaneously, and means for agitating said tray during such delivery.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of atable, means for rotating the same, a tray carried by said table andadapted to hold a number of receptacles, means for delivering charges ofmaterial to said receptacles simultaneously, and means operated by therotation of the table for agitating lsaid tray.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding device comprising a cone and a shell mounted concentrically andforming a bin or hopper having a circular discharge-opening, a circularseries of separators, and means for producing a relative rotationbetween said separators and the cone and shell.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a feeding devicecomprising a vertical shaft, a cone secured to the lower portionthereof, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, a concentric shell carried bysaid sleeve and forming in connection with the cone a bin or hopperadapted to provide at its bottom an opening for delivering a circularsheet-stream of material of substantially uniform thickness, and meansfor raising and lowering one of said ports to vary the delivery capacityof said opening, for the purpose set forth.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding device, a series of separators accurately spaced apart, therebyproviding a series of openings or pockets between them, means forproducing a relative lateral movement between said separators andfeeding device, and a series of inclined tubes leading respectively fromthe bottoms of said pockets, the lower ends of said tubes being groupedat substantially equal distances from one another.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with acircular series of separators providing pockets between them, of asupport adapted to receive a tray,

ver, iris w and a series of inclined tubes leading' from the bottom ofsaid pockets respectively and having their lower ends grouped over anarea substantially corresponding` to that oll the top of said tray.

23. lin an apparatus oi the character described, the combination of arotatable table` a ring-shaped series ol separators carried thereby andproviding,l a correspondingl series of openings or pockets between them,a series oi inclined tubes leading' respectively 'from the bottoms ofsaid pockets and movably secured thereto, and means ior adjustingthelower ends of said tubes laterally.

24. ln an apparatus ot' the character described, the combination of aring-shaped WlljhlAM ElllEl' NICKERSON.

Witnesses:

E. D. Ui-minwioii, Josnrn T. BRENNAN.

